Courses

Stella Adler Academy of Acting & Theatre – Los Angeles welcomes actors from around the world to grow and foster their talent within our walls. Students need not have any performance background or previous training to apply.

Students can enroll Full-time, Part-time or take Individual classes.

Click on the class names below to read more about the class and pricing.

Descriptions

Adler Technique Level I

Stella Adler Academy Technique I: Film, television and theatre are all collaborative efforts, and actors are the “doers” in each of these forms. In this very practical, yet creatively inspiring class, all concepts are made “doable” through the use of the actor’s imagination. Some of the concepts that will be covered and applied are:

1.) Understanding of self through the art form of acting
2.) The actor’s relationship to words and feelings
3.) Physical and mental relaxation within the circumstances
4.) Creative Imagination as a major acting tool
5.) Application of the three levels of justification
6.) Non-verbal expression through character behavior
7.) Relationship with partners
8.) Mental actions and their four specific types

This class is not a beginning acting class, it is an introduction to the very freeing and applicable Stella Adler Technique.

The goal of technique is to enable the actor to create specific characters in specific circumstances and through those characters to communicate the themes of the play. Through Stella Adler’s imagination work we will give the actors the tools to create the background of their characters. This is accomplished through specific exercises designed to strengthen the actors imagination and allowing them to build specific background for whatever character they are given. The technique teaches actors how to be moved by the circumstance and apply that work to their characters. This is the essence of Stella Adler’s work: the communication of the play through specific characters in specific circumstances.

Technique III explores in depth the essentials of the Stella Adler Technique. Building a character, living in the given circumstances of a play, and playing actions and objectives are among the exercises that are covered. Translating the technique into a usable process through monologues and scenes is the central focus of the class. Pre-requisite for the class is completion of Adler Technique I and II.

An acclaimed method for improving the actor’s sense of mental and physical ease and flexibility. This technique provides a means to change unconscious habits of excessive tension into an integrated, poised use of the whole Self (mind, body, especially concerning breathing and voice). Students will receive hands-on guidance from the teacher in order to identify their own habitual movement patterns. This awareness provides a great sense of openness and ease, optimizing the actor’s potential. The actor learns to use the technique in performance to develop their craft, as well as in daily activities to help prevent injuries.

The confident actor uses the principles of the Alexander Technique as a tool to be present and stay connected. After having the experience of the first Alexander Technique class (Alexander Technique I), the actor is ready to come to the Advanced, in order to explore more deeply the use of the self, and to carve deeper into the actor’s craft. The understanding of this process can enable the actor learn to choose more wisely. We will explore in depth how the Alexander Technique fits in perfectly when entering the stage: Maintaining a sense of lightness (and light-heartedness) in any audition; speaking without tension and strain. Furthermore, we will apply AT “tools” to monologues, scenes, mock auditions, cold readings, and in front of the camera. You’ll still receive the hands-on guidance from the teacher, as well as practice quieting your nervous system and releasing unnecessary tension with Constructive (Active) Rest. You’ll train yourself to be highly aware of your acting instrument, having the skill to stop unwanted habits and to make clearer and more confident choices. Prerequisites: Alexander Technique I.

The purpose of this class is to prepare actors for the audition environment by giving a realistic idea of what is required in an audition. This is an on-camera class. Students will work a minimum of twice per class and see their work in video.

In this class, we deeply investigate character and the process of deepening an actor’s character work, through a series of exercises and work on actual scripts. The work in this class will be applicable to film and theater and will leave the actor with certain techniques that bring the actor closer to his or her character and give him or her a deeper sense of belief in themselves in the circumstance.

An advanced class that offers an in-depth look at Chekhov’s major plays (Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, The Cherry Orchard) with an emphasis on script analysis, determining objectives, and playing actions. The mystery of Chekhov’s genius is revealed through a layer by layer exploration of character relationships and the given circumstances, and by the peeling away of extraneous, self-oriented acting impulses. The actor’s work becomes pure, simple, and direct.

An intense exploration and refinement of the work and techniques established in Technique I and II.

Cost $875. 8 Weeks.
Class Format: Two 3 hour classes per week

Greek Theatre

Greek Drama – tragedy and comedy – is where acting derives from. Drama in ancient Greek means action; action involves thought and thought requires presence. The class explores the essential elements of the theatre – plot, character, poetry, aesthetics – and attempts to fathom the world of the heroes through exercises based on animal archetypes, primordial movement patterns and oriental healing techniques. Strong characters demand strong choices. Greek theatre is all about poetry and size, two ideas that are at the core of the Stella Adler Technique.

Mandatory one hour vocal and body workout prior to Play Production I, II and III rehearsal.

Improvisation

Through the use of theatre games, improvisational exercises, and scene work, the actor learns to leap past boundaries and move forward into strong choices in role playing, characterization, and interrelating. It is a class to explore freedom of imagination and experience acting.

A dynamic class that will liberate the actor from self-consciousness and self-doubt. The structure improvisations will explore the paramount importance of the objective and nurture an instinctive, highly personal and original approach to the art of acting.

An intensive psycho-physical approach to movement training. In this class, actors develop a detailed technique for how the thoughts and feeling of their characters are expressed through physical movement and behavior. During this introductory term, a large emphasis is placed on self-awareness. Actors develop an understanding of their own physical habits and learn techniques for moving beyond those habits. This gives actors the freedom to engage their bodies in new ways in their acting and to make choices that serve the truth of their characters. This is a valuable class for students of all levels.

In this class, in addition to exploring the more advanced exercises of the Lucid Body technique, students have an opportunity to deepen their experience of the work and to explore the connection between their movement foundation and their acting process.

In this class students explore physical acting techniques that can be applied directly to monologues and scenes. Throughout the class students develop a process for making ‘physical choices’ in their performance work.

Students work on three different character projects that are applied to two dramatic monologues and a scene. Each project will be developed using a different set of physical theatre techniques, which are explored in depth, so that students are able to apply them to their outside acting work.

A program designed to help the actor find and explore the use of their voice in a musical theater context. “Give me a great actor that can sing a little over a great singer that can’t act!” -Stephen Sondheim. Learning vocal techniques to strengthen your voice and build confidence. Breathing, phrasing, lyric interpretation and delivery. Choosing songs. Understanding your instrument.

A step by step process for the advanced actor, covering the preparatory work that is done before the final callback audition and the acting breakdown of the full script before the actor arrives on set to shoot. Only film scripts are used and all work is done on camera. Adjusting the actor’s instrument from Stage to film is emphasized.

A continuation of the Adler On-Camera Technique for the advanced actor covering the technical work that is done after the actor arrives on set to shoot and the camera begins rolling. Scenes which are already at performance level are taped with specific practice in the differences in scale, eyeline and pacing that occur from changes in camera angles. Comfort with continuity, and keeping the performance alive through multiple takes will be examined in playback.

At the end of the first year of study, actors are cast in a fully staged production of a play. The director/teacher aids the actors in combining all of the elements of the first year of study, applying them towards final performances in front of an audience. Prerequisites apply.

This class is the actor’s final production in the full program. The actor is expected to work independently on all script analysis and character breakdown so that his/her individual work contributes to the ensemble in each progressive rehearsal. The director will help shape the performance through the rehearsal process.

Students will learn the fundamentals of storytelling and the structure to tell the story in the best possible way. All aspects of writing a play are investigated, including how to write dialogue that matters, how to get an idea to the page, and writing memorable characters. Students will write a one-act. For beginning and experienced writers.

Cost $500. 8 Weeks.
Class Format: One 3 hour class per week.

Rehearsal Technique

The skills you need for before, between, and during rehearsal. How do you apply everything you’ve learned so far and “show up” with it? This is the answer. Don’t “show up” waiting to be told what to do – “save yourself.”

Having completed Technique I & II and Script Breakdown, the actor will present scenes where they will receive analysis and criticism that will provide insight into the playwright and his meaning. The actor will acquire a new heightened understanding, which will lead to an interpretation of the playwright in light of the actor’s own talent and creativity.

Having completed Technique I & II and Script Breakdown, the actor will present scenes where they will receive analysis and criticism that will provide insight into the playwright and his meaning. The actor will acquire a new heightened understanding, which will lead to an interpretation of the playwright in light of the actor’s own talent and creativity.

This class teaches the process of breaking scenes into playable beats and actions, character analysis, specific playwriting styles and periods, by presenting various scenes from classic to contemporary texts.

This class teaches the process of breaking scenes into playable beats and actions, character analysis, specific playwriting styles and periods, by presenting various scenes from classic to contemporary texts.

An introduction and step by step approach to the English language’s greatest playwright. Through monologue work, students become knowledgeable and practiced with the fundamentals of Iambic Pentameter (blank verse). Students learn to understand the principles and structures of Rhetoric and how to identify Operative Words and how to personalize imagery. Language springs from a deep experience, and the expression of complex thoughts becomes easy and familiar. By course’s end, students have two monologues which will serve them in auditioning for professional companies.

Cost $850. 8 Weeks.
Class Format: Two 3 hour classes per week.

Shakespeare II

A continuation of the work from Shakespeare I, students produce scenes from Shakespeare’s plays. There is further emphasis on script analysis and deep character development based on the embedded clues provided by Shakespeare.

In this course, students are introduced to the sounds inherent in General American Speech and learn to identify the sounds they are making in comparison with this standard. Sounds are taught using the International Phonetic Alphabet, a notation system which allows students to visualize sounds and apply the correct sounds to their text work. Students leave with an awareness of their own speech patterns and tools with which to make changes. Required text: Speak With Distinction, by Edith Skinner.

Building on the awareness gained in Speech I, students learn to use words and sounds more effectively to create a deeper emotional/personal connection to the text. Students also continue to work on speech habits as they relate to General American Speech and elements of Good Classical Speech are introduced. Students leave with the ability to speak classical and modern texts with physical and emotional clarity. Required text: Speak With Distinction, by Edith Skinner. Pre-requisite: Speech One.

Throughout human history, Theatre Acting, and all performing arts, have been a necessity for the human psyche, and have become spiritual and educational vehicles that have helped individuals and societies move forward. In this on your feet, active class (not lecture only), the most important Theatre/Acting movements through history are identified and explored. Ancient Greek Theatre, Roman, Sanskrit, Noh, Kabuki, Intermezzi, Comedia del’ Arte and Elizabethan Theatre are just some of the stops on our journey though time and human exploration. This knowledge of our Theatrical and Acting Heritage can become a powerful tool in the hands of an actor.

Cost $750. 8 Weeks.
Class Format: Two 2 hour classes per week.

Voice I

This class trains the actor to free the natural speaking voice by learning and exploring the classic progression of the Linklater voice work. The actor will learn a series of physical and vocal exercises that will free the voice from tensions and negative habits while developing, strengthening and expanding vocal range, power, resonance and clarity. The actor will explore a piece of modern text in this class.

This class continues the Linklater voice progression with a strong focus on development of the speaking range, articulation, and emotional-vocal connections for the actor. They develop the tools of pitch, rate and volume to structure the work, and learn to allow their voice to respond to their imagination and interpretation of the material. The actor will explore a piece of classical text in this class.

This is an advanced voice class for actors who have finished Voice I and II. The actor will continue to reinforce the voice progression they have learned, and will have more opportunity to practically apply their voice technique in monologue and scene work every week. The actor will explore both modern and classical texts in this class.

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We are the world renowned acting school located in the heart of Hollywood, CA offering extensive training for the serious actor in theatre, film, and television. The Technique grew out of Stella Adler’s work with Stanislavski, the father of modern acting and has been studied by many of the world's most notable actors, directors, and writers including: Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro, Salma Hayek, Benicio Del Toro, Holland Taylor, Gary Ross, Eric Stoltz and Mark Ruffalo, and more.